Vehicle construction



-A. R. CUNNINGHAM` VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 2s. 1.946

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A. R. CUNNINGHAM Y 2,453,499

VEHICLE CONSTRUCTIONV Nov.' 9', 1948.

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Patented Nov. 9, 1945 VEHICLE ooNs'rRUo'rIoN Arthur Raymond Cunningham, Detroit, Mich; Application December 23, 1946, serial No. 718,003

15 Claims. l

This invention relates generally to Wagons, trailers or other types of vehicles and refers more particularly to improved means for unloading such vehicles. i

@ne of the objects of this invention is to pro- Vide a vehicle having a load carrying body and having relatively simple means for tilting the lbody at such an angle that the contents of the body are dispensed by the action of gravity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vehicle having a body connected to an axle for the ground engaging wheels by means releasable from the axle upon upward movement of the adjacent end of the body and having means respon sive to shifting movement of' the body relative to the axle` to raise the end aforesaid of the body 01T` the axle.

StillI another object of this invention is to provide a toothed element supported for rotation about the axis of theu axle and meshing with an elongated rack supported on the vehicle body beneath the latter to raise the body off the axle and to position the latter intermediate the ends of the body upon shifting movement of the body in a direction toward the axle.

A further feature of this invention is to provide a vehicle having a body supported on front and rear ground engaging wheel supporting axles and having means responsive to shifting movement of the body rearwardly relative to the `rear axle tol swing the front end: of the body upwardly about the rear axle.

The foleing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds,l

especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a bottom elevational view of a wagon or vehicle equipped with unloading means embodyin-g the features of this, invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 2-u2 ofA Figure 1-;4

Figure` 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing the parts in a different` position;`

Figure 4,' is a view similarA to; Figure Zirexcept that the partsare shown in still another-position;

Figure 5" is;A a fragmentary sectional View showing the parts: in their; position; i

Figure 6 is av sectional; viewlv takenion the line 6.-.-6 of Figure'Z-: p i i Figure 7 is; a sectionalY view taken on the line 1...'l of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a setionali 8?-.85 of Figure 7;

vieu/taken on the line Eistee e is a diagrammatic new: off; a modified form of vehicle body dumping mechanism;and

Figure 10 is a sectional view showing .still an1`l other embodiment of" this invention. i l i The unloading feature forming the `subject matter `of the present invention fis shownas ap-` plied to a typical farm wagon,` although litlwil'l be understood as this description proceedsxthatw-the principle embodied in the presentfinvention may be employed in connection `with other xtypesot vehicles. With this in View, reference-ismade more in detail to the drawings, wherein it will lbe noted that the numeral ID indicates a farm `type wagon `havinga load carrying body il removably supported on front and rear axles I2 and I3 re` spectively. i i

A pair of ground engaging wheels I4 are suitably pivotally supported at opposite ends of `the front axle I2"for turning movementabout sube stantially `vertical axes and are connected `together bylinkage I 5 to enable the wheels I4 to be turned as a unit about their respective steering axes. As shown particularly inzFigure lof the drawings, the linkage I5 is operated by'a pull bar lo having the rear end pivotally Connected to the axle I2 `intermediate the ends of the latter by a pin Il having its axis extending" substantially vertically to enable swingingrnovement of the bar I6: ina generally horizontal plane; Thebar I6 isalso pivoted to the linkage I5 for actuating the latter to eiect turning ofthe vehicle either' to the right or left. Thissteering mechanismforms no part` ofthe present invention, and may be of any suitable design.` i A c The front end portion of the vehicle body II is releasably supported on the axle I2 by a pair of brackets lisecured to the underside of the body I I at points spaced from each other in the `direc. tion to the axle I 2` and extending "downwardly from the body. The lower endsiof the brackets I8 are bifurcated, and are positioned so that the furcations I9 extend at opposite sides ofthe axle i2. Thus the furcations provide a driving connection between the axle I2 and thebody,4 `butido` not interfere with raising the body od of the axle.`

vItfwill further be noted from Figurel bf the` drawings that the body I I is reinforced by` a` frame 2UA comprising laterally spaced side sills 2l" extending in the direction of length ofthe body and `connected together at the `front end by an Xshaped cross brace 22;` Theprearends of the sills are connected together by a cross member 23 having the opposite` ends welded or otherwise permanently secured to the respective sills.

The, front axle I2 is also `connected tothearespective, sills. Zilrofl the frame 20! by pairs* of nlinks respectively engaging a pair of ra-cks 3|.

3 24. The front ends of the links are pivoted to the axle I2, and the rear ends of the links are pivoted tothe frame 20 at points spaced rearwardly of the axle I2. The links 24 not only serve as an additional driving connection between the -axle I2 and body II, but also act to swing the front end of the body I I upwardly in a manner to be more fully hereinafter described.

The rear axle I3 supports a pair of ground engaging wheels 25, and in the present instance, the

Wheels 25 are journalled on the axle I3, so thatV vthe latter is free to rotate relative to the wheels.

and the lower ends of the brackets merely rest on the axle I3. to enable raising the body relative to the 4axle I3. In detail the lower end of each bracket 26 is formed with a recess 21 for receiving the axle I3, and the rear walll 28 of thev recess extends at substantially right angles to the axis of the' laxle I3 to provide an abutment for engagement with the axle upon forward movement Aof the vehicle. The opposite wall 29 of the recess 'in eachbracket 26 is tapered to provide the required clearance when the rear end of the body is swung upwardly to the position thereof shown in Figure 340i the drawings. Vtilt' will further benoted from 'Figure `6' of lthe drawingsthat a pair of toothmenibers 30are secured` to the axle I3 in spaced relationship lengthwise of thevaxle, and haveteeth4 thereon Each rackv 3I `comprises a pair of links `32 secured together at longitudinally spaced points by pins 33 whichcooperate with one another to form in effect av chain for engagement with the teeth on the adjacent member 30. The rear ends of lthe links 32 are formed with upwardly extending lugs 34,` and'A the latter are pivoted to the .rear end portion-of the frame 20 by pins 35. The front end portions of the links are also provided with up` wardlyy extending lugs 36, and the lugs 36 on the two "pairs of links are respectively pivotally conto dump the load in the body Il, an obstruction the retainers.

I3 is placed to the rear of the wheels 25, and the rock shaft 38 is rotated to bring the ats 4I substantially parallel to theretainers 39. rIhe rock shaft 38 isthen shifted rearwardly relative to the retainers 39 to any Vselected position along In the present instance the rock shaft 38 is shown in its rearwardmost position relative to the retainers 33, When in the selected position the rock shaft 38 is again rotated to position the flats 4I crosswise of the retainers to thereby lock the shaft 38 against further movement along the retainers.

Lifting the rock shaft 38 rearwardly relative to the retainers 39 drops the front end portions of the racks' 3| to the positions thereof shown 'in Figure 2 of the drawings wherein the racks are inclined upwardly at an angle approximating the' angle of inclination of the walls 29 on the brackets 26. Inasmuch as the rear ground engaging wheels areblocked vfrom rearward movement by the abutments 42, it follows that rearward movement of the vehicle imparts a corresponding rearward movement of the racks 3| relative to the rear axle and effects a rotation of the toothed members 30 in a clockwise'direction. Asa result, the rear end of the body is raised off of the axle I3 to the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. In this connection, it will be noted that the extent of relative movement between the body and axle I3 is limited by a chain or other flexible linear member 43 having the opposite ends respectively connected tothe axle I3 and the `cross brace 23 on the body frame 2G.

When the rear end of the .body is tilted to the position thereof shown in Figure 3 of the draw-K ings, the rear axle I3 is positioned susbtantially midway between opposite ends of the vehicle, so that the application of a continued force ina rearward direction onA the vehicle causes the links 2li to swing the front end portion of the body upne'cted to the lower ends-of pairs of links.3|.- The j upper ends rof thelinks 31 of each `pair are respectively pivotally connected to the sillfmemure 7' of the drawings, it will-be noted that a' rock shaft 38 extends transversely of the frame 20 through the upper ends of the links 3T, and is rotatably supported on the respective sill members y2li by retainers 39. The retainers 39 extend in the direction of length of the sill members andV permit shifting movement ofthe rock shaft 38 in aacorresponding direction. The purpose of this shlftingmovernent is to vary the eiective ylengths ofthe links 3l, and thereby change the angle of inclination of the racks 3|. In order to hold-'the rock shaft 38 in various different positions length; wiseof the retainers 39, the portionsof thev sill members 2 I forming the top walls of the retainers are fashioned to provide a plurality of arcuate recesses 40. Also the portions of the rock `shaft registering with the retainer are provided with ats 4| to-enable shifting movement of the-rock shaft` along the retainer by merely rotating the shaft-to a position wherein the-dats 4| areparallel to thevretainer.

Operation v 'During normal operation of the vehicle, the racks 3| are in theirl elevated positions shown'l in wardly about the axle I3 to the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. When in this position the body assumes a substantial angle of inclination relative to the ground and the load falls by gravity out of the back end of the body,

The body is restored to its normal position shown in Figure 5 of thedrawings by merely asserting a pull on the'bar I 5 in a forward direction i to move' the front axle I2 in a correspondingv direction. The links 24 then operate to lower the front end of the body, so that the brackets I8 again rest on the axle I2. The operator then manipulates the rock shaft 38 to enable sliding the latter forwardly in the retainers 33 to the positions indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure'Q of the -drawings illustrates hydraulic means 50 for tipping the body II of the vehicle about the'rear axle i3. This may be accomplished by replacing the links 24 with one or more hydraulic motors havngrcylinders 5I and having pistons 52 reciprocably mounted in the cylinders. The hydraulic motors are installed with the axes of the cylinders extending lengthwise of thevehicle body II and the front ends of the cylinders are pivotally coupled to the front axle I2 in any suitable manner. The rear ends of the cylinders are apertured for the passage f'of thel piston koperating-*rods 53` and the v adapt `are connected by 'a screw Ell having ""buult la @bubble lutbllebl lb tu breeds uuly l1. 'Nulle such cases, the rrotor is preferably buried luieubbulale website blubb el blib. beurt,

Regardless uf bbs buulbur dfbud'ruullu 'rubbers employed bbebubuultb uuu. Of baue syllables is ed be be alternatively .ubuuubsu bb b bump. urbe uf hydraulic uuid, medium .Supply u suitable valve 5b The burlar/u1u@ aud sube ul supply may be installed. bu the tractor uuu suuuebbeu tu bue brut-alu@ nebula Qu les Velu ,e "l bu dulbebubls flexible, genaue tions of i Orthodox design.

Wltbibb'bbrb arrangement the rebuf- @uu Pou- ,l

is elevated to the busi.-

tion ofthe yvehicle body [l farenes. gf ne ,aus "are, puebla une@ a blob. le Fis w53 bf the druwies ifi the ,v rlbeu lu., bbuueuuuu with `blu? belbuululunt. luuuuef! bffler the rear se@ portion of the body is tipped upwardly, thevalve @6, is operated to connect the frontend of the uvliulbi br @builders bo ibemdelive'uy Side uf blub. it aus le uuuueub bhe beau @uu uf` the uylluuer ur bvlluuurs tu blub. Suufue 0f Supply it` As a rus-ult blue freut bull. uf bbs bully ll lsbalsbu oli the axle l2 and the body is swung about the real bale, tu blib ui but drawings vbureubbu lbuu is ulsuberged fr0-u1 bbu wbr @au 0f bbs bbuv by the @uilen uf sli-ayu i i l The' embodiment o; the invention shown in lil 10 uf ille, drawing sbbvs bu arrangement vegaa but beur met be blbbbu, belts uulubulue? position without lthe assistance of eithertbe tractor or the abutment 42, In detail theftwo axles v righi bud; lelt handthreads' Bl and 62. at opposite endsre-` spectively threadably` engaging a pair of ,nutsA esy and e4, "free, mit, es is exea to a bearing 6.5

sain@ manner desc mounted on` the irontfaxle IZfand the nut 64. is`

subbbrleul uu the beur bulb 13.4 The. frbnt'uu df thescrew extends beyond the front ot the, bodyand is provided with a cr'anl (i6, or in some cases, be ubublbd le, suitable, reversible fluire uiebbl einem, not shown.

y vlfitb tlief'alici/:el exceptions, thet construction any be iusbblvlul bb bbs urs?. described fsil el the invention shown in Figures l to 8` inclusive;

As @result rbbailuu of; blib, Screw 6u lu1 une dues tionL InpvttsA theA axles,V in, directions. toward one abn;`

Qbllub bb bbs uelabl'vfe Puslblbus Sllbwu lu Fleurs 4, el lll-b drawings aud. the fruub @nu 0f lgbul baur 1S,- Sluuug upwardly by blue links 24.120 lbs uulu'uuue position also Shown. in Fig-ure 4, uf bhe-uubwlugs- Ou, lhufubllblf baud; rubuiluu uf." the surevlu the opposite direction returns the axles to their nor` uuu buulllbrls` sauva, lu, Figure 2- of the drawings and also restores the body to its normalposition shown in the same figure.

Wbat I claim as my invention is:

l. A vehicle comprising a body, rst and sec-` ond axles for supporting the body," ground en gaging wheels carried by 'the axles, a 'detachable connection between the first axle and body, a eonnectidn between ther second axle and" body permitting sailpbody together with the first axle to shift relative to the second axle in a direction toward the second axle to locate the latter inter.- lllsdilbtb ubs buds. oi the body. and' meansicr swinging the body about the second axle in re sponse to continued application of the force applied to shift the body relative to said second axle.

2. A vehicle comprising a body, first and second axles for supporting the body, ground enposition indicatedin Figure 4` gaging wheels carried by the axles, a detachable uuuusubluu ,between the. r-Sb ElXlb. aud bullyy a connection between the second axle and body responsive to the application of a force applied to the body in the direction of the second axle to permit` shifting movement of the body together with the iirst` axle relative to the second axle in the above direction, means for limiting the extent of `shifting movement of the body and rst axle relative to the second axle and operable to locate the latter intermediate the ends of the body, andad link pivotally` connecting the rst axle 4to the, body 9und responsive to the continued application of said force to swing the body about the second axle.

3, A vehicle comprising a body, first and second axles for supporting the body, ground engaging wheels carried by the axles, Va detachable connection between the rst axle` and body, a connection between the second axle and body responsive to the application of a `force applied to` the body in the direction of the second axle to, permit shifting movement of the body together withthe lirst` axle relative to the second axle in -ybody on the axle and releasable from the axle upon upward movement of the body relative to the axle, arack extending lengthwise of the body and having one end pivotally connected to the body adjacent the axle, a` link having the oppol, ,o site ends respectively pivotally connected to the free1 end of the rack and body, means for swinging` the. link downwardly relative to the body 'to locate the rack an inclined plane and operable tofhold'the rack in said plane, and a toothed ele ment secured to the axle in meshing relationship with the-"rack: and rotatable in response to shiftn ing movement of the body relative to theaxle in a direction toward the axle to lift the body from said axle and to tilt tbe `body at an angle corresponding generally to the, inclined plane of the rack. i

A vehicle comprising a body, a rotatable axle having ground engaging wheels rotatably supported thereon, an elongated extending lerlgftl-iwi'se.losiA the-,body beneath `tllelatter and having one` end plvotally connected to :the `body at` a point vz idjacent the axle, means connecting o theI oppositeend (gfthe rack to the body, a toothed elaine t ;e as a unit with tbe4 axle and are i d withn the rack .,and a connection ef body and axle -releasable from the nse to shiftingmovement of tbe body A ivetothe axlein a direction toward .o piyotally, conneotingopposite ends oi `tbe racks to the body and adapted to support the racks in a plane inclined downwardly from the axle, a pair of toothed elements rotatable as a unit with the axle and respectively meshing with the racks, and connections between the body and axle releasable from the axle in responseto shifting movement of the body and racks relative to the axle in a direc tion toward said axle. Y

7. A vehicle comprising a body, a first axle, a second axle vsupported for rotation and spaced from the rst axle lengthwise of the body, supporting means for the body on said axles releasable from 'the axles upon upward movement of the body relative to the axles, a toothed element rotatable as a unit with the second axle, means on the body cooperating with the toothed element upon `shifting the body in the direction of its length t-oward the second axle to raisey the body oi the se-cond axle, and a connection between the first axle and body operable in response to said shifting movement of the body to swing the latter upwardly around the second axle.

8. A. vehicle comprising a body, a iirst axle, a second axle supported for rotation and spaced from the first axle lengthwise of the Vbody, supporting means for the body on said axles releasable from the axles upon upward movement of the body relative to the axles, a toothed element rotatable as a unit with the second axle, an elon-y gated rack on the body cooperating with the toothed element upon shifting the body relative to the second axle in a direction toward the latter to raise the body oi the second axle and to move the adjacent end of the body substantially beyond the second axle,lmeans for limiting the extent of movement of the body relative to the second axle and operable to locate the second axle intermediate the ends of the body, and a link connecting the rst axle to the body and operable to swing the body upwardly about the second axle.

Q. A vehicle comprising a body, a first axle, a second axle supported for rotation and spaced from the first axle lengthwise of the body, supporting means for the body on said axles releasable from the axles upon upward movement of extending lengthwise of the body beneath the latter and having one end pivoted to the body adjacent the second axle, a link pivotally connected to the opposite end of the rack and having the free end pivotally connected to the body for sliding movement lengthwise -of the rack, means for locking the free end of the link in different positions to vary the angle of inclination of the rack, a toothed element rotatable as a unit ward the second axle to locate the latter intermediate the ends of the body, and means for swinging the body about the second axle.

l1. A vehicle comprising a body, rst and second axles for supporting the body, ground engaging wheels carried by the axles, a detachable connection between the rst axle and body, a connection between the second axle and body permitting said body together with the first axle to shift relative to the second axle in a direction tof the body relative to the axles, an elongated rack ward the second raxle to locate the latter intere* mediate the ends of the body, and fluid operated means for swinging the body about the second axle. r

12. A vehicle comprising Va body, a first axle, a second axle supported fori rotation and spaced from the first axle lengthwiseof the body, `supporting means vfor the body on said axles re leas.l

able from the axles upon upward movement of the body relative to the axles,'a toothed element rotatable as a unit with the second axle, means on upon shifting the body in the direction kof its length toward the second axle to raise the body oi* the second axle, anda fluid motor operable to swing the body'about the second axle,

13. AA vehicle comprising a body, a rst axle, a second axle supported for rotation and spaced from the first axle lengthwise of the bodysup porting means' for the body on said axles releasable fromthe axles upon upward movement of the body relative tothe axles, a toothed element rotatable as a unit with the second axle, an elongated rack on the' body cooperating with the toothed element upon shifting the body relative tothe second axle in a direction toward the latter to raise the body off the second axle and to move the adjacent end of the body substantially beyond the second axle, means for limiting the extent of movement of the body relative to the second axle and operable to locate the second vaxle intermediate the ends of the body, and fluid pressure operated means for swinging the bodyabout the second axle. s y

14. A vehicle comprising a body, rst and second axles for supporting the body, connections between the body and axles releasable from the latter upon upward movement of the body relative to the axles, means for relatively moving the axles in directions-toward each other, and means re.- sponsiVe to relative movement of the axles toward one another to raise the body ofi the axles and to swing the body about one ofvv said axles.

15. A vehicle comprising a body, rst and seco nd axles for supporting the body, connections between the body and axles releasable-from the latter upon upward movement of the body relative to the axles, means for moving the axles toward one another including ascrew having right and left hand threads adjacent opposite ends, nuts carried by the axles and respectively threadably engaging the right and left hand threaded portions of the screw, Aand means responsive to relative movement of the axles toward one another to raise the body off the axles and to swing the body about one of the axles.

ARTHUR `RAYMOND CUNNINGHAM.

explanations errno The following references are of record in the le` of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number `Name n Date 1,400,752 Land -s Dec. 20, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 340,375 France July 5, 1904 

